Tipton town hall to address school changes

A town hall meeting will be hosted Thursday evening in Tipton to allow citizens the chance to voice their opinion regarding recent changes to religious traditions in the Tipton R-VI School District.

According to the Tipton Times, the Tipton district received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation regarding two complaints about the district’s inclusion of religious-related practices during school events, specifically the Tipton High School Candlelight ceremony in May and beginning school board meetings with prayer. The Times reports the August school board meeting began without prayer and plans are being changed for this school year’s Candlelight ceremony.

According to a Facebook event, the meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday in the St. Andrews School gym. A sound system will be used to help attendees hear anyone who chooses to speak. Organizers of the event emphasized that the event is not a protest but rather a civil discussion about options and ideas, plus to allow citizens to learn more about the decisions made.

For more information about the situation and a report from Thursday’s meeting, visit sedaliademocrat.com or read an upcoming edition of the Democrat.